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This entry focuses on women’s experiences in academia (defined as places of secondary education) in high-income countries with relatively similar definitions of, and history of, academia. A brief history of women in academia is provided first. Next, the representation of female faculty in academia is described in relation to scholarly field, rank, and institution type, as well as across countries. Biases against women in hiring and promotion decisions, pay, student evaluations, and factors related to scholarship recognition are then examined. The entry concludes with a description of women’s contributions to their academic fields.

History of Women in Academia

Until the 20th century, women rarely had access to higher education, and those who did were barred from academic careers. The history and participation of women in academia, however, ...